Habitat for Humanity

[calzephyr]

Man, tomorrow is going to be tough! It took a lot of effort to get off the couch to type this. Back in the summer I signed up to volunteer to work on Habitat for Humanity's Sheftel Court project on the old site of the Highlander hotel.

Today was our big day for my co-workers and I to shine, despite the cold and wind. We did an awesome job and we had lots of volunteers to help us, including retirees, a geologist and a very handy dentist. After hearing what some of the jobs were, I decided to go for drywalling. I thought we would be drywalling the inside of the units, but no, we were drywalling the outside. I had no idea you could do that. We carried the huge 4'x8' sheets, cut them, hefted them, and nailed them. Some of my other co-workers got to staple Tyvek wrap to another unit as well, put up vinyl siding, and finish up some framing on the second unit.

I was too chicken to go on the scaffolding to drywall though, so I went to the site of the third unit. This unit is way behind, due to an old wall where the hotel was. I tied rebar together with baling wire so they made a grid pattern. This needed to be done before the conrete was poured.

It was really cool to see things from the ground up. All the volunteers were really nice and so was the professional construction crew. I would do it again! Maybe not the drywalling though :-D Those sheets were heavy. Maybe by next time we can do fun stuff like painting and it will be warmer.

Comments

[wolfebyte.livejournal.com]

You nailed dry wall? Oi! Screws are way easier and efficient, as it takes fewer screws, they're a more solidly set, and the drill does most the work.

/do-it-yourself geekery

:)

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

Um, yes :-) The outside of the unit was chipboard, and we nailed drywall on top with big nails that had a fine tread like screws. I believe someone called them ring nails. There were power drills available, but no one suggested screws. I think it would have been easier that way.